In the traditional customs of Chinese culture, incense is an important ritual for the Chinese New Year. It is not only a remembrance of ancestors, but also a reverence and prayer for the gods. However, with the change of times, many people's understanding of this traditional practice has gradually decreased, and some people even have no idea how to proceed at all. This article will introduce in detail the correct method and content to say about the New Year's incense, to help you better understand and practice this traditional custom.
1. Preparation of incense
Before offering incense during the New Year, you need to make the following preparations:
1.Choose incense: Choose natural, odorless incense and avoid chemical incense. At the same time, the length of the incense should also be moderate, not too long or too short.
2.Prepare offerings: Common offerings include fruits, pastries, wine, etc., which should be fresh and undamaged. In addition, other specific offerings can also be prepared according to personal beliefs and family traditions.
3.Keep it tidy: Before burning incense, make sure the place where the incense is burned is clean and tidy, and avoid performing the ritual in a messy environment.
Second, the steps of incense
The steps to incense during the New Year are as follows:
1.Lighting incense: After lighting the incense, wait for the incense to burn steadily before applying the incense. If the incense burns unsteadily, it can easily cause danger.
2.Bowing: When offering incense, bow to the ancestors or gods as a sign of respect. When bowing, keep your head down, bend over, and keep your body steady with your hands close to your legs.
3.Incense: Raise the incense to your forehead while silently reciting your wishes or blessings in your heart. Then hold the incense high above your head and insert it into the incense burner. In the process of incense insertion, it is necessary to keep the hand stable and avoid the incense lodging.
4.Make a wish or prayer: In the process of making incense, you can make your own wishes or prayers, and you can also pray for the blessings of your family, relatives and friends. It may depend on individual circumstances and beliefs.
5.Bow and exit: After the incense is finished, bow again and leave. When leaving, be quiet and respectful.
3. Precautions when incense
In the process of incense during the New Year, the following points need to be noted:
1.Be sincere: When offering incense, be in awe and gratitude, and don't be absent-minded or distracted. Only sincerity can move the gods and achieve the purpose of prayer.
2.Be respectful: When offering incense, maintain a humble and respectful attitude, and do not be arrogant or frivolous. Only by being respectful can we be blessed and favored by the gods.
3.Etiquette: When offering incense, it is necessary to abide by the corresponding etiquette norms, such as following certain procedures, keeping quiet, and avoiding random movement during the burning of incense. Only by observing the rituals can respect and reverence for the gods be expressed.
4.Don't be overly extravagant or extravagant: Although it is necessary to prepare offerings and incense items for incense, it is not advisable to be overly extravagant or extravagant. This is not only a waste of resources, but also easy for people to have a comparison psychology and vanity, deviating from the original intention of incense.
5.Pay attention to safety: When burning incense, pay attention to safety issues to avoid accidents such as fires. At the same time, it is also necessary to avoid touching hot incense ashes or candles and other items during the incense burning process to avoid burning yourself.
IV. Conclusion
Offering incense is an important ritual in traditional Chinese culture, which is not only a remembrance of ancestors, but also a reverence and prayer for the gods. By understanding and mastering the correct methods and precautions for Chinese New Year incense, we can better inherit this traditional custom and feel the breadth and profundity of Chinese culture in practice. During the Chinese New Year, let's put incense on our hearts and pray for family safety, career success and good health!